Transforming growth factor-beta 1 promotes contraction of collagen gel by bovine corneal fibroblasts through differentiation of myofibroblasts.

PURPOSE To determine whether the ability of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) to influence the contractile activity of corneal fibroblasts depends on their differentiation into myofibroblasts. METHODS Bovine corneal fibroblasts were cultured on collagen gel in MED 5 medium (F-12 nutrient mixture supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum) with or without TGF-beta 1 (0.01-10 ng/ml). To evaluate the corneal fibroblast-derived contraction of collagen gel, the thickness of the gel was measured daily for 6 days. The total number of cells on the gel was counted with a Coulter counter. The detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA); a marker for myofibroblasts, on these cells was performed immunocytochemically by using a mouse monoclonal antibody against alpha-SMA. The number of myofibroblasts (alpha-SMA-positive cells) was determined. RESULTS The control gels containing bovine corneal fibroblasts that were cultured with the MED 5 medium alone significantly contracted to 72.3 +/- 1.2% of their original thickness after 6 days. TGF-beta 1 increased the contraction of collagen gel mediated by bovine corneal fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Approximately 0.2% of the cells on the control gels cultured with MED 5 medium alone were alpha-SMA positive. TGF-beta 1 significantly increased the expression of alpha-SMA in a dose-dependent manner. There was no significant correlation between the thickness of the collagen gel and the total number of cells. However, there was a significant negative correlation between the thickness of collagen gel and the number of myofibroblasts. CONCLUSIONS TGF-beta 1 increased the contractile activity of bovine corneal fibroblasts and their ability to differentiate into myofibroblasts. Because contractile activity was correlated with differentiation, the influence of TGF-beta 1 on corneal fibroblast-induced collagen gel contraction may depend on the promotion of myofibroblast differentiation.